Whitecaps offense can't get anything going in front of biggest crowd of season

Lance Durham went 2-for-3 Saturday night in a 3-1 loss to Bowling Green.

COMSTOCK PARK – The West Michigan Whitecaps opened the second half of the season with a rejuvenated offense that combined to score 28 runs in a three-game road sweep of Fort Wayne.

Upon returning home, the Whitecaps' bats have fallen flat.

West Michigan dropped its third-straight game Saturday night before a season-high crowd of 9,559 at Fifth Third Ballpark, and managed only seven singles in a 3-1 loss to the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the opener of a three-game series.

The Whitecaps have mustered just four runs in their past three games and slipped to 5-5 in the second half.

“That's been our theme the last few games,” West Michigan manager Larry Parrish said. “We're getting guys in scoring position, we just can't drive them in. We swung the bats great in Fort Wayne, and then we come home and swung the bats well the first game, but we haven't swung the bats good since then.”

The Whitecaps stranded eight runners on base Saturday night, and had a pair of rallies diffused in the seventh and eighth innings.

They had two on and one out in the seventh, but a double play ended the threat. In the eighth, three walks by Bowling Green pitching loaded the bases with two outs before Jason King struck out looking.

“We've had runners in scoring position, but just haven't been able to come up with a hit when men are out there,” Parrish said. “We're mixing in some hits, but we're not bunching them and getting the key hit.”

The Whitecaps fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, but got one back in the second. A two-out infield single from David Gonzalez scored Lance Durham.

Hot Rods' starter Reinaldo Lopez scattered six hits over six innings.

“Their pitcher made his pitches, and sometimes you have to tip your cap,” said Durham, who went 2-for-3. “He found the zone and it is what it is. We have to find different ways to get it going.”

Chad Smith

Chad Smith made his first start of the season in place of Jordan John, who was given a start off for extra rest.

Smith, normally a long reliever, pitched well, allowing two earned runs and five hits in four innings, but didn't get any run support.

West Michigan's bullpen silenced the Hot Rods with five scoreless innings. Guido Knudson, Angel Nesbitt and Corey Knebel combined to retire 15 of the 17 batters they faced.

“Smitty did a good job for us and didn't give up much, we just didn't score,” Parrish said.

The Whitecaps lost the catalyst of their offense Friday night when Devon Travis was promoted to high Class-A Lakeland. Travis led the Midwest League in batting average (.352) and hits (102) before his promotion.

“We had the leading hitter in the league, and he played well both offensively and defensively,” Parrish said. “It's a good thing for him, and he deserved it and earned it, but yeah, we're going to miss him. There's no two ways about it.”

Durham said contributions are going to have to be made throughout the lineup in Travis' absence.

“Everybody need to step up now,” he said. “He was a huge role in our offense, whether he led off the inning or came up with the bases loaded, he got the job done. Everybody, one through nine, needs to pick up Devon's slack because that's how much he meant to our team.”

Harold Castro, a 19-year-old prospect, was assigned to West Michigan to replace Travis. Castro didn't play Saturday night, but is expected in the lineup Sunday.

“He started in Lakeland and played pretty well over there, and he's going to get a chance,” Parrish said. “We didn't play him because he had a long day and traveled all day, but he'll get the start tomorrow.”

The Whitecaps continue their homestand 1 p.m. Sunday against the Hot Rods. West Michigan starter Charlie Gillies (0-3, 3.26) will search for his win against Bowling Green's Jeff Ames.

Sunday will serve as Breast Cancer Awareness Day and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day.

Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.